What Momma Says...

It's always a good idea to do what your momma says.

Mine encouraged me to lay off the politics for a while and to "stick to talking about God." Good words, and like I said-- pretty good idea to do what momma says. So I decided to look for a piece of good news to write about tonight.

The story that caught my eye was the follow-up to the YouTube video of the man and the praying dog. Did you see it? The one where he teaches his dog to "say grace?"

(Catch it here if you'd like...definitely worth the minute it takes to watch!)

Anyhow, believe it or not there is a follow-up story on CNN.com about Steven Boyd and his dog, Djaingo. Turns out that Boyd is a 12-year Army veteran who pulled some fairly nasty duty as a sniper, a paratrooper, and a counter narcotics operator. Like many vets who serve in high tension areas, he began to have health issues after his discharge.

According to CNN, "Since he first was hospitalized on February 19, 2002, Boyd has struggled. Because of multiple traumatic brain injuries - sustained through military exercises, a car wreck, a rappelling accident and a grenade detonation - he says he suffers from gastroparesis, a paralysis of the gastrointestinal tract.... As a result of this illness and repeated, extensive dehydration, he says his weight - 175 when healthy - has dropped to as low as 98 pounds."

(The full story can be found on CNN's website here; I hope you'll take the time to read it.)

The quick version: Boyd walked into an animal shelter one day, thinking that volunteering to walk some of the dogs might take his mind off his own problems. He met the dog, then called "Chip," with whom he would soon form a fast relationship. "Chip" was scheduled to be euthanized the next day. He had become so vicious that no one could handle him.

Boyd took the dog, and put him through what he describes as "boot camp." After six months of hard work, the dog had been transformed into the kind old gentleman you see on the YouTube video. But he hadn't yet learned to pray. In fact, at that point in his life, Boyd didn't pray much either.

It was his momma who helped with that.

After Boyd considered killing himself by drinking Clorox, he says he felt like "God was smacking me with a 2 x 4, telling me to wake up." He had grown up in a Christian home, but had not been practicing his faith.

He went back to church, got involved in Bible study...and decided to give his mom, who Boyd describes as a "real prayer warrior," a special Christmas present. So, he taught his dog how to say grace and put it on a video.

And the rest, as they say, is history. The disabled veteran has received thousands of contacts from all over the world, a life-line his mother says was much needed.

"Steven told us he was so lonely. So much of the time, he's apartment-bound. Now he's getting emails from all over the world," she says. "It's given Steven such a boost to his morale. God can take the tiniest thing and use it for good."

It really is a good idea to do what your momma says!